Hrudey OK Being Backstop Backup

Published 4:00 am, Monday, March 30, 1998

The Sharks spent last summer scrambling to upgrade their goal tending, even though Hrudey's workmanship was hardly faulty last year.The problem was the folks in front of him. When San Jose landed Mike Vernon, it was clear that he wasn't going to be paid big money to sit on the bench.

But this is all fine with Hrudey. He doesn't look at a No. 2 goalie's job as akin to keeping the pucks cold. And after 15 years in the NHL, Hrudey refers to himself as a "backup goalie" without rancor.

"The position I find myself in is still valuable, it still has worth," said Hrudey, who backstopped the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup finals in '92-93. "I do take it fairly seriously. There are 24 guys (on the roster), and some are in and out of the lineup. Somewhere down the road, everybody has to make a contribution.

"I work real hard in practice. . . . I'm just trying to stay sharp. I realize the position I'm in. Everybody wants to do his part. I want to get in there and show I can help this team." Hrudey, 37, may be Vernon's backup, but he's hardly a wasted spot on the roster. He continued his mastery of Dallas with another stirring show in goal Saturday, his sixth win over the Stars in the past two seasons. This was his first victory since December -- when he blanked Dallas.

"He's accepted his role," said Sharks right wing Tony Granato, a teammate of Hrudey's on the Kings. "I don't care what level you play on, you're not going to find a guy who competes harder than Kelly, I played with him in L.A., when he was facing 40 shots a game."

Said Sharks center Ron Sutter: "Kelly is the perfect example of what a No. 2 goalie can be. He works hard, stays sharp and he's always focused. He's great in the locker room. He's always positive -- I think that's what a backup goalie has to be."

Sharks coach Darryl Sutter knows he has a backup netminder he can trust, even during a push for a playoff spot. Sutter has praised Hrudey for his team leadership all season, and says if a goalie could be team captain, Hrudey would be it.

"You don't get by with one goalie," Sutter said. "Teams on the top have someone else they can put in."

Hrudey can't be blamed for going some 3 1/2 months without a win. Despite a 4-14-2 record, he has a goals-against average of 2.59 and saves percentage of .903, numbers that will work any day of the week. The Sharks just never score anything for him

Saturday's four- goal output must have seemed like an offensive avalanche to Hrudey. In his previous 19 starts, the Sharks scored just 29 goals, or 1.53 a game.

"You can't say enough about Kelly," said Sharks center Bernie Nicholls, another ex-King teammate. "He's turned into a backup and worked hard every day. He's played great games; we haven't been able to score for him."

Said Ron Sutter: "Two or three goals is going to be enough. We haven't given him enough support."

Nothing seems to rattle Hrudey, not even the November 30 ignominy of starting against the Oilers in his Edmonton hometown, then being yanked after giving up two scores in less than eight minutes. However, what has bothered him lately is the quality of his play, even though his statistics indicate he's been fine.

"I don't think I played terribly, I didn't make the big save," Hrudey said. "That annoyed me. You look to your backup for inspiration."

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The Sharks will likely have to look elsewhere. Hrudey will probably retire after the season, moving his wife and children to Calgary. No doubt, Hrudey will be one of those guys whose value won't truly be appreciated until he's gone.

NOTES: Mike Vernon has returned to San Jose for the birth of his son. Jason Muzzatti, acquired by the Sharks last week, has been recalled from San Jose's American Hockey League affiliate in Lexington, Ky., to back up Hrudey for tonight' game. . . . Left wing Murray Craven, who has missed the past five games with a sore neck, expects to play. . . . Right wing Owen Nolan has missed the past two contests with a slightly separated shoulder but is expected to rejoin the team tonight and possibly play.

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